Syria Demands Cessation of Politicization of Humanitarian Action
Syria called for an end to the politicization of humanitarian work in Syria, an end to linking early recovery projects and their financing with political conditionality, and work to provide sustainable solutions and the immediate lifting of illegal coercive Western economic measures that have caused disastrous consequences for the Syrian people and deprived them of the most basic necessities of life.
The Acting Charge d’affaires of the Permanent Delegation of Syria to the United Nations, Dr. Al-Hakam Dandee, said during a meeting of the Security Council today: “Today’s briefing on political and humanitarian affairs in my country is the last one this year, which is being held in light of the continuing threats and challenges faced by Syria for years caused by terrorism and the illegal military presence of American and Turkish forces on parts of Syrian territory, the escalation of repeated Israeli attacks on vital Syrian facilities, the catastrophic humanitarian crisis caused by donors ‘ failure to meet the funding of the Humanitarian Response Plan, along with the catastrophic consequences of illegal unilateral coercive measures imposed by Western countries. He pointed out that the council’s condemnation of all these violations of Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, international law and the UN Charter represents a legal responsibility and a humanitarian necessity.
Dandee regretted that some Western countries, 75 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of human rights, continue to disrespect this declaration through their complicity and even partnership in the brutal crimes and genocide committed by the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip and in its repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure in Syria and Lebanon, the latest of which was the missile aggression that targeted the Damascus countryside last Sunday evening. He pointed out that the continuation of the occupation in these attacks may push the region towards a comprehensive escalation that cannot be contained or have consequences for the region and the world.
Dandee noted that the United States and the European Union continue to impose illegal economic measures on Syria that significantly affect the most basic human rights. This is confirmed by the report of Alina Doohan, Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, which states: “the comprehensiveness of the existing unilateral sanctions regimes against Syria, and their increasing excessive compliance, especially after the imposition of the Caesar Act by the United States in 2019, have put the country in a quandary with serious negative effects on a wide range of human rights.”
Dandee explained that the United States of America has not only engaged directly in the aggression on the Gaza Strip alongside Israeli war criminals, and its blindness to the repeated Israeli attacks on civilian infrastructure in Syria, but also continues its destructive policies, insisting on its illegal military presence on Syrian territory, supporting terrorist organizations and separatist militias, and stealing the wealth of the Syrian people including oil, wheat and gas. The Turkish forces also continue their illegal presence on Syrian territory, providing logistical, military and financial support to terrorist organizations located in northwestern Syria, which are listed on the Security Council’s regulations for terrorist groups.
Dandee reiterated that the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland is a key goal for Syria, as measures and facilities have been taken to provide a dignified return for Refugees and Syria continues to follow a positive approach to overcome the repercussions of the terrorist war on it. Thanks to the amnesty decree issued by President Bashar al-Assad last month, the door to the settlement of the security situation was opened early this month for all those who entered or left Syria illegally. Further measures related to conscription and military service laws were also announced.
Dandee called for an end to the politicization of humanitarian work in Syria, an end to linking early recovery projects and their financing with political conditionality, work to provide sustainable solutions, and the immediate and unconditional lifting of unilateral coercive measures, stressing the need to stop the repeated Israeli attacks on civilian airports in Syria, which led to the cancellation of a total of 27 United Nations flights for humanitarian air services between October 12 and the first of this December.
Amal Farhat